Big Sky Country Jams With These July Events
The Montana Folk Festival (July 7-9) and the Red Ants Pants Festival (July 27-30) brings music to Montana so if you’ve ever considered making a trip to this state, this may be the time to do it.
Here’s a rundown on each event.
Montana Folk Festival 2017
Held in Butte, home of the state’s copper mining heritage, it features more than 20 performers on multiple stages. It’s not all folk music, either; it has New Orleans Jazz, zydeco, reggae, blues, Irish and even gospel music. It starts on Friday evening, goes on all day Saturday starting at noon, and Sunday until about 8 p.m.
There’s also arts and craft vendors, food and beer and wine.
As for where to stay, there are hotels, motels and B&Bs in and around Butte – tho they do tend to sell out – as well campgrounds and RV parks.
In 2017, the festival’s theme focuses on the importance and celebrates instrument makers in Montana — “Making Music Under the Big Sky: Instrument Makers in Montana.”
Cost/Tickets: The event is free, tho donations are accepted. Officials appreciate it if you drop $20 into a donation bucket.
Top Things To Know: No pets are allowed, no smoking near the performers and stages (it’s fire season in Montana), no coolers or high-back lawn chairs.
Link: Montana Folk Festival Website
Red Ants Pants Festival 2017
More than 30 bands and musicians play on two stages. The 2017 lineup includes Asleep At The Wheel, Parker Milsap, Lucinda Williams and the Bellamy Brothers.
It takes place in rural White Sulpher Springs north of Boseman. In addition to the music, there’s Montana-type activities and demonstrations, among them mule packing, ranch roping and timber skills (chainsaws and carpentry).
The festival benefits the Red Ants Pants Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to women’s leadership, working family farms and ranches and rural communities
Cost/Tickets: A single-day ticket is $55 advance/$60 at the gate. A three-day pass is $135/$150. VIP (shaded areas and complimentary “refreshments”) is $500 for three days. Kids under 12 are free. Camping is $25 per person from Thursday-Monday.
Top Things To Know: The last free shuttle leaves Friday and Saturday at 2:30 a.m., so they want you to stay a while and enjoy things!…The campground is divided into “regular” and “quiet” sections; RVs are welcome but there are no RV hook-ups…No pets are allowed into the festival or campground…There are four motels in the immediate area and other camping/RV options.
Leave a Reply